Chapter 5

Frank and Joe looked up when they heard the noise coming from outside.

The men who held them captive tried running out to escape by splitting up, but the cops were surrounding from every side.

Frank and Joe exchanged a hopeful glance. Then Frank really eyed his little brother more carefully. He noticed him wince again in pain from the blow to the head.

"Joey?" Frank asked softly.

Joe turned slightly and looked at him with a puzzled look in his eyes.

Frank asked gently, "You alright? How's your head?"

His brother nodded slightly assuring he was okay but winced again. Frank frowned with concern and gently pushed Joe's hand away.

"Here let me take a look at it for you." Frank gently examined the wound to his head again. As he got a closer look at it, he did not like the way it looked.

Frank let out a sigh, as he looked at his little brother.

He joked, "Oh little brother you are a mess. What are we going to do with you?"

Joe grinned ignoring his head injury laughing.

His older brother chuckled as they listened to the action occurring just above them, waiting for their father.

Then the door burst open, and the boys let out a sigh of relief as they recognized the figure standing at the door.

"Dad!" They both cried out in happiness and relief.

Fenton raced down the stairs and exclaimed, "Boys are you both okay?"

Frank and Joe nodded and said in unison, "Yeah."

Then what their father noticed was not the head injury, or lacerations, on Joe and Frank, but how they were interacting.

As the boys spoke in unison they exchanged amused glances and burst out laughing.

Their father could see that even though the boys' lives had been put in danger, being together had brought the close bond back.

Fenton smiled warmly and said, "I take it you boys worked out your problems."

Frank and Joe smiled at each other and found no words were necessary at this point.

Then Frank turned to his father and said, "Dad, Joe has a bad head injury it may not be a concussion at this time, but he needs to be checked out. He also has a nasty cut on his arm. That man used a knife on him."

Fenton turned to his youngest son and said, "Joe let's take you to the hospital son. Just get those injuries checked out and be sure it's not worse than we think. I don't want to take any chances."

Frank added, "Neither do I kiddo."

Joe attempted to protest saying he was fine, but one stern big brother look from Frank, and decided against it.

Frank gently eased Joe up and helped him to stand, allowing him to lean on him for support until he regained his balance.

"Easy Joe." Frank murmured gently.

He and his father helped Joe into the car, and drove off to the hospital.

Another thing that Fenton observed between the two boys' interactions was how Frank remained by his side.

Once Joe was cleared to go after being checked out, the boys let out a sigh of exhaustion, knowing they were going home now.

Frank watched his younger brother with a smile as the boy fell asleep in the car.

He took a moment as he watched his brother to think back to their time together while being held captive.

He was happy to know that at least the hard things between them were in the past now.

He had his little brother back, and would never take Joe for granted again.

The elder Hardy brother was pulled out of his thoughts by the car pulling in the driveway.

Softly he reached over and shook Joe's shoulder and said, "Come on Joe wake up buddy we're home."

Joe groaned slowly opening his eyes and glancing around. He saw Frank smile at him and returned it.

Frank unlocked his door and stepped out, going to Joe's side and opening the door.

Gently he helped his brother slowly get out of the car steadying him if he needed it.

Frank looked up when he heard their mother cry, "Frank! Joe!"

What caught their mother's eye was not just that they were back, but their brotherly bond had returned.

She saw grins on both of their faces as they walked side by side to the house.

Frank smiled, "Hi mom. Joe's pretty tired I'll tell him to go to the living room. That way we can sit down and tell you what happened, if he's up for it."

Laura smiled in return and asked, "You worked things out with your brother?"

Frank nodded watching Joe walk into the house out of the corner of his eye. He just said, "I will try to explain when we go inside."

That evening, Frank and Joe and their parents walked into the living room after some rest and a warm meal.

The parents caught each other's eye as they noticed that Joe sat close to his brother.

In return they watched as Frank put an arm protectively around his brother again.

As they took turns explaining they realized how well they meshed again as one picked up the story right where the other had left off.

The boys laughed in unison sharing moments between them.

Frank spoke with emotion as he completed the story.

"I realized how I had been taking Joe for granted all this time. I truthfully deep down I had this weird feeling I loved him. I guess I don't know I was afraid to admit it."

At this time he eyed his brother with warmth and love, their eyes expressing any words that they felt needed to be said.

"I promised Joe from now on he comes first. I lost it with him before Karate class, and I had time to think when we were held together.

It made me regret what I had done. Especially when I looked at Joe and saw the pain in his eyes that I had caused. That broke me in every way possible.

I won't make the same mistake twice. My brother comes first no matter what I will always be there for him. I don't know what I would honestly do without this kid."

Joe nodded and smiled at him as he felt tears come to his eyes. He tried to speak but found he couldn't.

After a bit more of relaxation enjoying the time together as a family again, Frank finally stood up and stretched.

"Well we'd better get on to bed eh Joe?"

His younger brother nodded looking half asleep and Frank laughed.

"Come on buddy."

Joe suddenly grinned wickedly at his older brother and exclaimed, "Race you upstairs!"

Frank was hot on his heels at this point cackling playfully, "I will get you my pretty."

Arriving at each other's doors they exchanged glances, Frank knowing what his brother wanted.

He quietly opened his door holding it open, he smiled and said, "Come on Joe."

Joe and Frank walked into Frank's room as the older boy shut the door quietly behind them.

The boys sat side by side on Frank's bed for a moment, neither of them saying anything.

Joe gave him a watery smile and said, "It's good to be back big brother. I missed you."

Frank watched him for a moment, and spoke his voice filled with emotion.

"I missed you too little buddy. And again I am so sorry about everything. I knew you were a little more emotional than I was, and I should have realized what this had been doing to you. I am never going to do that again I promise."

Joe nodded slowly and said, "Me neither I'm sorry for antagonizing you. For pissing you off I just I guess I didn't know what else to do anymore. I gave up on friendship a long time ago, as brothers, as best friends."

Frank understood and admitted he regretted every moment of it now, and wanted his brother back.

Then Joe joked with a big grin, "Of course what would you do without your fun loving little brother? Everyone deserves a brother as handsome, and as funny and talented as me."

Frank grinned and replied, "What an ego kiddo!"

With that Frank tackled his brother and tickled him until he begged for mercy. Both boys broke down laughing.

That night their parents came up to check on them before heading off to bed for the night.

They figured the boys had long gone to bed in their respective rooms.

However Laura peaked into Joe's room, and found he was not there.

Fenton called quietly, "Laura!" He waved her over to Frank's door.

She stood there and took in the sight before her.

The boys had collapsed from enjoying their brotherly moment together, reforming that bond, that had been nonexistent for years, and had fallen asleep on Frank's bed.

Frank had a protective arm wrapped behind Joe's shoulders slightly cradled by his older brother.

Both of them looked so peaceful, so quietly the parents not wanting to intrude, shut the door behind them.

Laura and Fenton returned to their room and lied down on the bed.

"We've got our boys back Laura."

She nodded, as there were no words to express her happiness.

The Hardy family was together again a bond that for years had not been there was reconnected.

With them sticking together as a family held by that bond that may have been bent, but not broken they could get through anything.

Now came the task of the next Hardy adventure.